Christchurch & Akaroa

CHch

Three nights at Foley Towers, Christchurch. I was expecting to see some scars from the previous earthquakes, but nothing could have prepared us for what was actually waiting for us. The entire CBD was gone! Levelled off. Demolition balls were swinging and huge diggers were clawing at the shattered remains of the office blocks and high-end apartments. Quirky streets lined with art deco buildings were fenced off with warning signs to KEEP OUT! Maps were displayed everywhere to highlight the areas of the city which were off limits to the public. Memorials and tributes to those that lost their lives where concentrated in one area. It felt like a post-apocalyptic city in ruin. I didn’t take any pictures. Partly because it was spitting rain, but mostly because it felt wrong somehow.

We visited the re:Start mall. An effort to bring consumers back to the city by offering an array of familiar shops and popular franchises in temporary dwellings. Shipping containers. An unusual, but highly innovative solution.

We spent most of our time in the suburbs of the city which seemed to be largely unaffected.

I was very impressed with how the locals obviously treasured their city. They were determined to put everything back exactly the way it was, or better, despite the fact that any second the earth could tremble and undo all their efforts leaving them to start all over again. The people of Christchurch are here to stay and good on them. Next stop: Akaroa. A place recommended to us by an odd, but friendly resident at the hideous hostel in Wellington.

Akaroa

First impressions were very good indeed. This is the view approaching the town.

The town itself consists of one street of independent shops and businesses. How refreshing it was to be in a town with no sign of a Subway, McDonalds, Warehouse and or Countdown anywhere. The only road sweeps around the bright blue water of the bay. At the end of that road, half way up a mountain we reach a farm which will be home for the next couple of days. The staff were super friendly and we check in to our room which is in it’s own tikki-style building overlooking the mountains and the bay.  Mari and I stay up until the early hours to watch the Geminid meteor shower.

Today we’ve been swimming with hector dolphins. I can honestly say it’s been one of my all-time greatest experiences. We went with Geoff, (the owner of the farm), another hostel worker and an Austrian couple. That was it. Just the six of us. It was such a relaxing and intimate experience where we felt really free.  We passed several other boats with tourists squeezed into every inch of the side railings and we knew we had it good. Not to mention they paid considerably more for their excursion.

The dolphins were gorgeous creatures and they were just as friendly, playful and curious as I was lead to believe they were. Geoff seemed to be the sort of man that has spent most of his life out on the water and he had the upmost respect and admiration for them. He explained how intuitive they are and that they will choose to huddle round certain people and for reasons only know to themselves, completely dismiss and avoid others should they determine that person is in a bad mood or of questionable character. He explained that they love children and as such, we should be childlike in our actions. We should sing to them. Oddly enough, when I started singing the Muppet theme tune through my snorkel, I had 4 or 5 of them swarming around me. As advised, I swam in short circles so they could follow. They rolled over on their sides so they could look up at me and figure out what the hell I was all about. It was amazing. We probably saw hundreds all in all.

Taking the boat around the coastline, we also got to see some little blue penguins and some fur seals sunbathing on the rocks.

Such an amazing day.

Foolishly we left our Christmas and New Year accommodation reservations until the last minute. After several phone calls, we booked what seems to be the last bed in Queenstown for that period. We will arrive there on the 21^st of December and stay until early January. If we like it as much as we think we will, then we will look for work as the savings won’t last forever.

Next stop Omaru & Dunedin.